Triumphrat

staves · 10-28-2009, 11:21 AM

I've had the Triumph Pantha jacket for several weeks now and here are my thoughts. I've been wearing the jacket on a 10 mile each way commute in Chicago with temperatures ranging from 40F to 65F, rain and shine.

I like the simplicity of my Aerostich Roadcrafter one-piece but I was looking for a waterproof shorter jacket. And what the hell, I just got my '03 S3. It was time to try a piece of Triumph riding gear!

Fit and finish of the Pantha jacket are thoroughly excellent. The synthetic material is thick enough to feel protective and flexible enough for comfortable motion. The cut (I'm 6'2", 205 lbs. and got an XL) is roomy enough for an underlayer, even with the liner zipped in.

Shoulder and elbow armor looks substantial though I think I'll swap out the flimsy back pad with Knox armor from one of my Teknic jackets.

I haven't had any need for venting (Chicago - Brrr!) but I can tell you that with the liner in I've been comfortable in a short-sleeved wicking T-shirt in the 50s and a light, long-sleeved fleece in the lower 40s. The jacket does a fantastic job of preventing any wind from entering thanks to the nylon overlapping lip inside the front zipper. I've been in several heavy downpours recently and have stayed bone dry. The jacket also dries quickly. Compared to Gore-Tex, the Hitena waterproof nylon Triumph is using fares very well.

Overall, the Pantha jacket is a supremely functional, great looking piece of gear. It's the first moto co. branded piece of gear I've bought and I'm mightily impressed.